Consumption of cashew nut induced anxiolytic-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats consuming a high fat diet

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cashew nut consumption on anxiety-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats. The groups formed were: Control (CONT), Dyslipidemic (DL) and Dyslipidemic cashew nuts (DLCN). Tests to assess anxiety parameters were performed after the treatment period. Brain fatty acid profiles were analyzed. The animals in the DLCN group showed more rearing than DL, without differing from the CONT and less grooming than either the DL and CONT in the Open Field. In the Elevated Plus Maze, DLCN spent more time on the open arms and in the central area compared to the other groups. As for brain fatty acids, there was a reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids for the DLCN compared to the other groups. The cashew nut, rich in fatty acids, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, reduced the anxiogenic-like behavior caused by dyslipidemia in rats without altering brain fatty acids.

Maternal rat prenatal and neonatal treatment with pequi pulp reduces anxiety and lipid peroxidation in brain tissue of rat offspring at adolescence

The Pequi fruit (Caryocar Brasiliense cambess), typical of the Brazilian cerrado or savannah, is a source of essential fatty acids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of consuming this fruit on anxiety behavior and lipid peroxidation in the brains of rats whose mothers were treated (by gavage) during pregnancy and lactation with Pequi fruit (pulp or nuts) at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. Anxiety parameters were assessed using the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), and light/dark box (LDB) tests. The brain was removed to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Data were analyzed using One-way Anova (p < 0.05). In the OF, the animals in the pulp group presented more time spent in the central area (20.37 ± 0.73 vs Control: 12.51 ± 0.39; Nuts: 8.28 ± 0.40) and increased locomotion (159.7 ± 6.10) compared to the other groups (Control: 127.3 ± 5.54; Nuts: 139.08 ± 6.57). In the EPM, the pulp group entered into the open arms (8.57 ± 0.36) and stayed more time in the central area (19.44 ± 1.17) compared to the Nuts group (7.14 ± 0.34; 13.00 ± 1.57). In the LDB the pulp group entered more (8.00 ± 0.42 vs Control: 7.16 ± 0.16 and Nuts: 7.42 ± 0.75) and stayed longer in the clear light side (92.18 ± 6.42) than all the other groups (Control: 71.44 ± 3.53; Nuts: 80.57 ± 6.50), respectively. Pulp group presented lower MDA in the brain (55.34 ± 3.04) compared to Control (72.06 ± 4.66) and Nuts (66.57 ± 2.45). We conclude that Pequi pulp consumption during pregnancy and lactation reduces lipid peroxidation in brain tissue and induces anxiolytic-like behavior in rat offspring. These effects were not observed in the Pequi nuts group.

Maternal consumption of conjugated linoleic acid improves tolerance to glucose and hdl-cholesterol in the rat progeny

Our study evaluates the impacts of maternal consumption of different levels of CLA during pregnancy and lactation on physical and metabolic changes in the rat progeny. Three groups were formed: control (CG) - diet without CLA; CLA1 - diet containing 1% CLA; and CLA3 - diet containing 3% CLA. Murinometry, body fat collection, biochemical analysis, glycemic curves, liver fat amount, and fatty acid profiles of the liver were studied. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test (p < 0.05). The CLA3 group presented highest body weight, feed intake and BMI (p < 0.05). The retroperitoneal fat, epididymal fat, and body fat index were higher in the CLA1 and CLA3 groups (p < 0.05) but no difference was observed for mesenteric fat. Yet in contrast, the experimental groups presented lower abdominal circumference and glycemic curves when compared to the CG (p < 0.05). CLA1 and CLA3 groups presented higher values of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05), yet no difference was found in serum triglycerides or LDL. The CLA3 group presented less n-3, n-6, total PUFA, and arachidonic acid in liver fat (p < 0.05). The CLA1 and CLA3 groups were higher in total MUFA in the liver fat. In conclusion, CLA when consumed during gestation and lactation increased: tolerance to glucose, HDL, and the body fat index in the offspring. Only the CLA3 group presented reduced total PUFA, n-3, n-6 and arachidonic acid in the offspring's liver.

Cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale L.) decrease visceral fat, yet augment glucose in dyslipidemic rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of roasted Cashew nuts consumption on biochemical and murinometric parameters in dyslipidemic rats receiving lipid supplementation. Young male rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n = 10). The Control group (CONT) was treated with water, the Dyslipidemic group (DL) received a high fat content emulsion throughout the experiment, and the Dyslipidemic Cashew Nuts group (DLCN) received the same high fat content emulsion throughout the experiment, yet was treated with Cashew nuts. Body parameters, biochemical, hepatic and fecal fatty acid profiles were all evaluated. The levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in the DL and DLCN groups as compared to the control group. DLCN and CONT presented no difference in HDL levels. DLCN presented higher glycemia levels than the other groups. There was reduction of body fat in DLCN as compared to other groups, but with higher accumulations of liver fat. DLCN presented a reduction in saturated hepatic fatty acids of 20.8%, and an increase of 177% in relation to CONT; there was also a 21% in increase DL for ω9 fatty acids in comparison to CONT. As for fecal fatty acids, there was a lower concentration of polysaturates in DLCN as compared to the other groups. The data showed that the consumption of Cashew nuts by the dyslipidemic animals treated with a hyperlipidic diet induced greater accumulations of liver fat and worsened glycemic levels, despite having reduced visceral fats and increased fecal fat excretion.

Maternal suppplementation with conjugated linoleic acid reduce anxiety and lipid peroxidation in the offspring brain

BACKGROUND

Maternal consumption of fatty acids can alter neuronal membrane function, synaptic connections, and protect the brain from alterations caused by disturbances such as lipid peroxidation and anxiety in the offspring. We aimed to investigate how the maternal consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) interferes in anxiety behavior of the offspring and cerebral lipid peroxidation.

METHODS

Three groups were formed: control (CG) - diet without CLA; CLA1 - diet containing 1% of CLA; and CLA3 - diet containing 3% of CLA. These diets were offered to the mothers from the 7th day of gestation until the end of lactation. The following behavioral tests were used: Elevated plus maze (EPM), Open Field (OF) and Light-dark Box (LDB). Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione were measured in the offspring's brains. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by the Holm-Sidak post-test or the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

CLA1 and CLA3 showed higher number of entries in the open arms and time spent in the central area in EPM, they translocated and ambulated more in the clear area of the LDB and presented more rearing in the OF compared to CG (p < 0.05); moreover, they presented higher concentration of glutathione and lower MDA in brain tissue (p < 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

We evaluated the effect of maternal consumption of CLA on anxiety and lipid peroxidation in rats' offspring, but a similar study should be performed in humans.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal intake of CLA induced a decrease in the parameters of anxiety and cerebral lipid peroxidation in the offspring.

Maternal intake of cashew nuts accelerates reflex maturation and facilitates memory in the offspring

Essential fatty acids, being indispensable during the stages of pregnancy, lactation and infancy influence the transmission of nerve impulses and brain function, and cashew nuts are a good source of these fatty acids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cashew nut consumption on reflex development, memory and profile of fatty acids of rat offspring treated during pregnancy and lactation. The animals were divided into three groups: Control (CONT), treated with 7% lipid derived from soybean oil; Normolipidic (NL) treated with 7% lipids derived from cashew nuts; and Hyperlipidic (HL) treated with 20% lipids derived from cashew nuts. Reflex ontogeny, Open-field habituation test and the Object Recognition Test (ORT) were assessed. The profile of fatty acids in the brain was carried out when the animals were zero, 21 and 60days old. Accelerated reflex maturation was observed in animals treated with cashew nuts (p<0.05). NL presented better memory in the Open-field habituation test; the NL and HL showed improvement of short-term memory in the ORT, but long term damage in HL (p<0.05). The results of the lipid profile of the brain at the end of the experiment showed an increase in levels of saturated fatty acids and less Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in animals of the HL. The data showed that maternal consumption of cashew nuts can accelerate reflex maturation and facilitate memory in offspring when offered in adequate quantities.